Best Neighborhoods for Young Professionals in Singapore

Singapore may be small, but with its diverse range of neighborhoods, it can be overwhelming to choose where to live. Obviously, major factors in this decision will be proximity to your workplace, cost of living, and how much space you’ll need. Since these factors constantly change, in this guide we’ll tell you about the benefits of each neighborhood.

Bugis

In this neighborhood, you’ll find a mix of condos and shophouses that are ideal for people who want to live in the city but not necessarily the Central Business District. Nestled between hipster haven Kampong Glam and the posh Central Business District, living here means having a wide range of entertainment options. With access to the recently opened Downtown Line, as well as the East West Line, from Bugis it’s about 15 minutes to Telok Ayer by MRT and just ten minutes on foot into the CBD. Try out Good Luck Beerhouse and Bar Stories on Haji Lane to get your fix of craft beer and creative cocktails, or Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar for contemporary European food and French wines.

Tanjong Pagar

Tanjong Pagar is the best for young professionals who are also foodies and love to go out to the bars. Living in this neighborhood, you’re guaranteed to save money on late night taxis because everything is walking distance. In less than 15 minutes, you can grab a coffee in up-and-coming Everton Park or kick off your Friday night along Club Street. For freelancers, there are several coworking spaces in the neighborhood including The Working Capitol. The main housing option in Tanjong Pagar are high-end executive condos, which will either have very high rental rates or be on the smaller side.

Tiong Bahru

For a slightly more local vibe, check out the walkups in Tiong Bahru. One of Singapore’s oldest residential neighborhoods, Tiong Bahru is full of Art-Deco public housing buildings from the 1930s. This neighborhood is perfect for people who want the convenience of being 15 minutes away from the city center but do not want to live amongst the concrete jungle of skyscrapers. The last decade has seen a renewed interest in the neighborhood and artsy shops have popped up around these streets.

Joo Chiat

Joo Chiat, Marina Parade, and even Geylang are becoming the new top neighborhoods for young professionals in Singapore who are prioritizing more space and saving money on rent over proximity to the city. These neighborhoods offer a wide variety of housing options including condos, landed houses, and walkups. Besides the better cost of living, these neighborhoods have a traditional Asian charm to them that is less commonly found in the city. Be sure to check out Rabbit Carrot Gun for amazing English-style brunch and No Signboard Seafood for Singaporean-style chili crab.

Holland Village

Holland Village has long been a popular neighborhood for young families because of its proximity to schools and the Singapore Botanic Gardens, while still giving easy access to the city via Orchard Road or its MRT station on The Circle Line. The neighborhood was once the primary destination for expat families, which led to many expat-oriented businesses and restaurants. On weekends, Lor Liput is closed to vehicle traffic and restaurants move their tables onto the street. Try the amazing desserts from local chef Janice Wong at 2am:dessert bar or enjoy an al fresco drink and prime people watching from PARK Holland Village.